Human Resource Management - Admission with Credit (12 month fast-track route to the MA)
MA
Key facts
Start dates
September 2024 / September 2025
Course length
Part time: 12 months
Department
Overview
If you have a postgraduate diploma (Level 7, 120 credits), our MA Human Resource Management allows you to top up your qualification to a full MA. The course is ideal if you are aiming for a strategic or senior management role and want to build an all-round, high level performance profile.
You can study on-campus (UK students only) or online from wherever you are, giving you the flexibility of learning in your own time. You can decide when and where to study to fit the degree in with your work and home commitments. And you'll enjoy a high level of personal support and online learning resources.
Our teaching staff are both researchers and experienced HR practitioners. They are passionate about their subjects and will support you throughout your studies.
We keep in touch with our graduates, their employers, and local CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) branch activities. This puts you in touch with great people from across the profession. And once a year we invite all these groups to come together at our Annual Postgraduate HR Research Conference.

How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
A Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management (120 level 7 credits) from a recognised institution.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you will need to have the following level of English language competency:
- IELTS minimum 6.0 (with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing and 5.5 in listening and speaking).
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Compulsory costs
Additional costs | Amount (£) |
---|---|
You will need to be a student member of the CIPD while taking the programme. Please see CIPD Student Member fees for details. |
£99 |
Optional costs
Additional costs | Amount (£) |
---|---|
International Business in Practice Study Trip module (inc. accommodation for seven nights, insurance, company visits and group transportation for all activities). This fee did not include international airfare, visa application fee (if relevant), dinners and activities during your free time. |
£350-1500 |
It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required. Please note that a lot of the coursework is now submitted online. |
From £30 |
You may choose to purchase books to support your studies. Many books on our reading lists are available via the Library, or can be purchased secondhand. | £20-60 per book |
Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills) |
£94-265 per week |
Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs) |
£122-180 per week |
Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41. |
Typically £0-200 |
Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes. BrookesBus travel is subsidised for full-time undergraduate students that are on a course with a fee of £9,250 or more, or living in an Oxford Brookes hall of residence. There is an administration fee for the production of a BrookesKey. |
From £10 |
Funding your studies
Financial support and scholarships
Featured funding opportunities available for this course.
All financial support and scholarships
Learning and assessment
You can progress to management roles or consultancy with the MA Human Resource Management direct entry stage. You will combine theory and practice and gain specific insights into organisational behaviour and design. And focus on an area of HRM research that is of specific interest to you.
To top up the PG Diploma to the full MA HRM award, you will study a single module and complete a dissertation.

Study modules
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
You will study online and participate in individual and group-based learning, within a supportive online community.
You will be provided with:
- highly structured, user-friendly written lecture and course materials
- audio and video podcast materials recorded by course tutors
- virtual tutorials, including in real time
- discussion forums - student and tutor led
- up-to-date web technology for delivery methods
- access to our online library.
You will participate in a range of classes at our Headington campus if you are studying through a combination of online and on-campus learning.
You'll learn from teaching staff, drawn from our Department of Business and Management within the Business School. You will also learn from visiting speakers from business and industry, local government, consultancies and research bodies.
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
Critical Investigation Skills will be assessed through and individual written assignment (3000 words) and an individual portfolio. The assessment for the Research Project will be a 15,000 word individual project and a 750 word individual reflective statement.
Research
There are two research clusters in the International Centre for Coaching and Mentoring Studies and the Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice which relate to this subject:
- Work and Organisations
- Management and Entrepreneurship Education.

After you graduate
Career prospects
This programme is an excellent way of providing you with a springboard to progress in your career in HR. Students who have completed it in the past report not only career advancement but also an enhanced sense of professional confidence and self-belief.
The programme enjoys a high completion rate and is guided by a tutorial team comprising research active and experienced HR practitioners.
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.